ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare
Tech-enabled Agri-Input and Agri Produce Selling Start-up Raises Pre-Series around  from NABVENTURES Fund
Kolkata, October 5, 2020
Unnati, a tech-driven agri-input and agri-produce selling agri-tech start-up, has raised $1.7 million in Pre-Series A Funding from NABVENTURES Fund, a fund backed by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development . The funds will primarily be used to scale up its tech platform and to set up more partner stores.
Unnati is founded by Amit Sinha  and Ashok Prasad . This organisation is positioned as a technology-enabled platform to provide access to competitively priced inputs to farmers and uses its reach to enable farmers to get a remunerative price for their produce by enabling them to access better markets in a fair and transparent manner.
This particular start-up also provides financial services to the farmer besides point-of-purchase farm advisories. It has a strong network of partner stores for selling agri-inputs and produce in Eastern, Central and Western India.
The goal of the organisation is to empower the country’s farmers and bring the best of technologies to enhance their productivity. The current capital injection will help to expand its value proposition in terms of innovative digital tools. The partnership with NABVENTURES  is going to attain new and important milestones on the back of this funding, hopes the start-up organisation. This funding will help invest in technology and in increasing geographical and crop footprint.
It is to be stated that NABVENTURES shares a vision of bringing a positive change in the agriculture industry and creating value for all stakeholders. Hence, the user-organisation hopes to gain from NABARD’s deep experience, knowledge and scale of operations in Indian agriculture and is looking forward to a long and mutually beneficial association.
Shri Manikumar S., Chief Operating Officer, NABVENTURES said “Unnati team is solving some of the important problems faced by farmers like lack of access to quality inputs at transparent prices and lack of last-mile market linkage to sell produce at competitive prices. The amalgamation of a fintech layer has resulted in customer stickiness.”
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Ministry of Railways
Rail Electrification gets a super boost
Indian Railways accomplishes electrification of 81.51% of the total BG network
851 Route Kilometers  electrified in April- September 2022
Electrification to result in better fuel energy usage
Indian Railways has embarked upon an ambition plan of electrification of its complete Broad Gauge network which would not only result in a better fuel energy usage resulting in increased throughput, reduced fuel expenditure but also savings in precious foreign exchange.
During the FY 2022-23, till September 2022, Indian Railways has achieved 851 Route Kilometers  as compared to 562 RKMs during the corresponding period of FY 2021-22. It is 51.4% more than the previous year figures of the corresponding period. The target set for electrification during this Financial Year is 6500 RKMs.
It is worth mentioning that record electrification of 6,366 RKMs was achieved in Indian Railways’ history during 2021-22. Earlier, highest electrification was 6,015 RKM during 2020-21.
As on 30.09.2022, out of 65,141 RKM of BG network of IR , 53,098 BG RKM have been electrified, which is 81.51% of the total BG network.
Ministry of Defence
DRDO & IAF jointly flight test Long-Range Bomb successfully
Defence Research and Development Organisation  and Indian Air Force  team jointly flight tested indigenously developed Long-Range Bomb  successfully from an aerial platform on October 29, 2021. The LR Bomb, after release from the IAF fighter aircraft, guided to a land-based target at a long range with accuracy within specified limits. All the mission objectives were successfully met. The flight of the bomb and the performance was monitored by a number of range sensors including Electro Optical Tracking System , Telemetry and radar deployed by the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur in Odisha.
The LR Bomb has been designed and developed by Research Centre Imarat , a DRDO laboratory located at Hyderabad in coordination with other DRDO laboratories.
Raksha Mantri, Shri Rajnath Singh has congratulated DRDO, IAF and other teams associated with successful flight trial and stated that this will prove to be a force multiplier for the Indian Armed Forces.
Secretary DDR&D and Chairman DRDO, Dr G Satheesh Reddy in his message to the teams said that successful flight test of Long-Range Bomb has marked an important milestone in indigenous development of this class of systems.
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Ministry of Coal
CIL supplies to Power Sector receives a growth of 7.3 %
CIL rake supplies to Power Sector increases by 13%
42%Increasein Coal Stock at Power Plants
Coal India Ltd. has supplied 407.02 MT coal to power sector during current year up to 04.02.2019thereby achieving a growth of 7.3% over the same period of last year.As on 04.02.2019, the averagerake loading of CIL to Power Sector including loading fromWashery& Good-Shed is 252.5 Rakes/day, which is an impressive growth of 13% over same period of last year.
This supply is likely to further increase due to the opening of the Dhanbad-Chandrapuraline which shall facilitate faster evacuation of coal from the BCCL subsidiary of CIL.
The increased coal supply has resulted in building up of comfortable coal stock at the end of the Thermal Power Plants. As on 04.02.2019, power plants are having 20.870 MT coal stock whichis sufficient for 13 days. This is an increase of 42% over the stock of same period of last year. The coal stock at TPPs on 04.02.2018 was 14.68 MT.
Prime Minister's Office
Central Government is closely monitoring situation in the wake of cloudbursts in Kishtwar and Kargil: PM
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has said that the Central Government is closely monitoring the situation in the wake of the cloudbursts in Kishtwar and Kargil.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, "Central Government is closely monitoring the situation in the wake of the cloudbursts in Kishtwar and Kargil. All possible assistance is being made available in the affected areas. I pray for everyone’s safety and well-being."
Ministry of Labour & Employment
The Central Board recommends 8.10% rate of interest to its subscribers for the year 2021-22
The 230th meeting of Central Board of Trustees, EPF was held today during the AKAM Iconic Week in Guwahati under the Chairmanship of Shri Bhupendra Yadav, Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Vice-Chairmanship of Shri RameshwarTeli, Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment, Petroleum & Natural Gas and Co-Chairmanship of Shri Sunil Barthwal, Secretary Labour & Employment and the Member Secretary Smt. NeelamShammi Rao, Central P F Commissioner.
The Central Board recommended 8.10% annual rate of interest to be credited on EPF accumulations in members’ accounts for the financial year 2021-22. The interest rate would be officially notified in the government gazette following which EPFO would credit the rate of interest into its subscribers’ accounts.
EPFO despite following a conservative approach towards investment, has consistently generated high returns over the last many years which has enabled it to distribute higher interest to its subscribers, through various economic cycles with minimal credit risk.
Traditionally, EPFO has been able to give a higher rate of interest on retirement savings in comparison to other available investment options because of its prudent investment policy of investing in long tenor high yielding securities for the past several decades. This has ensured that the returns on EPFO’s investments are higher even when the yields have been steadily coming down in the past decade.
For FY 2022, EPFO decided to liquidate some of its investment in equities and the interest rate recommended is a result of combined income from interest received from debt investment as well as income realized from equity investment. This enabled EPFO to provide a higher return to its subscribers and still allowed EPFO with a surplus to act as a cushion for providing a higher return in the future also. There is no over-drawl on the EPFO corpus due to this income distribution.
The assured fixed return approach of EPFO, announced by CBT every year along with the tax exemptions makes an attractive savings option for the PF members.
Prime Minister's Office
Prime Minister to attend Arogya Manthan function at New Delhi
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will preside over the valedictory function of Arogya Manthan at Vigyan Bhawan on October 1, 2019. Arogya Manthan is a two-day event organized by the National Health Authority, to mark the completion of one year of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY.
A new mobile application of Ayushman Bharat will be launched by the Prime Minister at the venue. He will also launch the ‘Ayushman Bharat Start-Up Grand Challenge’ and will release a commemorative stamp on the occasion.
Prime Minister will interact with select beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY. He will visit the exhibition on PM-JAY which will showcase the journey of the scheme over the past one year.
The purpose of the Arogya Manthan is to provide a platform to meet for all the important stakeholders of PM-JAY to meet and discuss the challenges faced in the implementation of the scheme in the past year and to forge new understanding and pathways towards improving implementation. The key recommendations of Arogya Manthan will be presented on the occasion.
Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 23rd, 2018.
Ministry of Defence
Lieutenant General CP Mohanty relinquishes Command of the Southern Command
Lieutenant General CP Mohanty, Param Vishist Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal will relinquish the command of Southern Army on 31 January 2021. In a solemn ceremony on his departure, the Army Commander paid homage to the martyrs by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial, Pune on 29 January 2021. The General Officer is moving to Delhi to assume the coveted appointment of Vice Chief of the Army Staff.
The Army Commander has given a significant impetus to operational and logistics issues to enhance the operational efficiency of Southern Command, whose area of responsibility includes 11 States and four Union Territories. Some of the major achievements during his tenure include COVID-19 relief operations at multiple location in the area of responsibility, undertaking massive flood relief and rescue operations in 27 districts spread over three states, evacuating more than 10,000 persons to safety in last year’s flood situation. Conduct of multiple joint training exercises with Navy and Airforce and also with friendly foreign countries. Inspite of the COVID situation, Southern Command has maintained a high state of operational readiness at all times. Relations with civil administration and Police of each state reached an all time high in the past year particularly while tackling COVID-19 pandemic.
Besides operations, the General also resolved a large number of pending land issues and enhanced synergy between the Defence Forces and various Civil Organisations through proactive and focused engagement. Administrative issues like education, discipline, and medical were given due emphasis wherein development initiatives involving schools, professional colleges and hospitals got initiated and its manifestation in Pune includes improvement of Army Law College and Army Institute of Technology. There was a major focus on increasing the health infrastructure, a new state of the art multi-speciality tertiary care Command Hospital project was completed and is now well established to serve the medical needs of serving and veterans.
Mrs Mamun Mohanty, as Regional President Southern Command Army Wives Welfare Association  was a driving force to ensure the well being of families in Southern Command. She focused on improvement and creation of infrastructure for skill development with a view to enhance employability of the spouses of soldiers. She was also at the forefront in conceptualisation and execution of multiple schemes for the Veer Naris and specially abled children. The recent creation of “Utkarsh” a multi activity centre for all ranks and families with state of art gymnasium, gaming zone of kids and multi utility facility for families will go a long way in improving quality of life.
All Ranks of Pune Cantonment gave a befitting and dignified farewell to General and Mrs CP Mohanty.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
IMS in Katra will be a world class State of the art project improving travelling experience of the pilgrims to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine: Shri Nitin Gadkari
Kashmir to Kanyakumari will no longer be a dream for the people of India: Shri Nitin Gadkari
Developmental works worth Rs 1,30,000 crore are being taken up by MoRTH in J&K: Shri Nitin Gadkari
Amarnath Marg to be built at a cost of Rs.5300 Cr for the convenience of the pilgrims: Shri Gadkari
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari today said, Inter Modal Station  to be established in Katra will be a world class state of the art project constructed to improve travelling experience of the pilgrims visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.. Shri Gadkari said this while interacting with media at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Spiritual Growth Centre, Katra.
During interaction with Media, Shri Gadkari said, developmental works worth Rs 1,30,000 crore are being taken up by MoRTH in J&K and since 2014, around 500 km of road network has been completed in the region. 41 significant tunnels are being constructed in J&K and Ladakh at a cost of Rs 45,000 crore, 18 ropeways worth Rs 5,000 crore will be constructed in the UT, Shri Gadkari informed.
The Minister also informed that for the journey between Jammu and Srinagar three corridors worth Rs 35,000 crores are being constructed, which will reduce the earlier distance of 320 kms by 70 kms and time travel will be reduced from ten hours to four to five hours.
The Minister also announced that 110 km long Amarnath Marg–leading to the holy Amarnath cave in Pahalgam will be built at a cost of around Rs 5300 crore for the convenience of the pilgrims going to Shri Amarnath Shrine.
Shri Gadkari said, with the development of state of the art road network across the country through every state and UT, the Kashmir to Kanyakumari will no longer be a dream for the people of India.
Dr. Jitendra Singh who was also present during the media interaction said, the Banihal Ramban Highway stretch will become the hub of lavender cultivation giving rise to Agri-tech Start-ups.
The others present during the interaction were Dr. V K Singh, MoS MoRTH, Lieutenant Governor J&K, Shri Manoj Sinha and Secretary MoRTH, Alka Upadhyay.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Shri Piyush Goyal asks NPC to leverage its strengths for expansion of its Advisory & Capacity Building services;
Online review meeting of National Productivity Council held;
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Sh. Piyush Goyal today took an online review meeting of National Productivity Council , an autonomous organization of DPIIT. Shri Som Parkash, Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and other Senior Officials of DPIIT were present in the meeting.
Shri Goyal acknowledged that National Productivity Council, an organization set up in 1958, has been rendering expert services in the areas of Consultancy and Capacity Building in the domains of Energy, Environment, Business process and Productivity improvement. He said that it can further leverage its strength and work more closely with Industry, SMEs and other organizations in the Government, Public as well as the Private Sector.
The Minister said that successful experience of NPC in implementing Lean Manufacturing in MSME sectors needs to be leveraged for expanding schemes to benefit more MSMEs. Similarly, the recent estimation study of plastic litter into riverine and marine eco-system needs to be expanded to other cities, with the objective of making India plastic free. It was also decided that the current scheme of “Training and certification of competent persons for Boiler Certification” needs to be reviewed with an objective of bringing in more efficiency. The CIM called for enhancing NPC’s revenue to the tune of Rs. 300 Crores by 2024 through expansion of its Advisory & Capacity Building services to public and private sectors.
In order to bring in more synergy among the offices of Commerce & Industry Ministry, it was recommended that all these offices should be co-located in the same city. The Minister further desired that NPC should try to replicate the Delhi Police Model of Automated Transfer & Posting System, developed by NPC, for other Government Organizations, including Railways. He also emphasized that NPC could render its services to Indian Railways which is largest government employer in the country.
AYUSH
Ministry of Ayush to organise two-day workshop on Sowa Rigpa
The National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa, Leh, under Ministry of Ayush in collaboration with Namgyal Institute of Tibetology , Sikkim is organizing a two days National workshop on Sowa-Rigpa for the Sowa-Rigpa practitioners from North Eastern States on 20th & 21st May 2022.
The workshop will be formally inaugurated on 21st May 2022 at Manan Kendra, Gangtok in the august presence of Chief Guest Shri, Ganga Prasad, Governor of Sikkim, Guest of Honor, Shri Prem Sing Tamang, Chief Minister of Sikkim and Shri, Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of AYUSH & Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Special Guest, Dr Munjapara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai, MoS for Ayush & WCD and Shri M.K Sharma Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of Sikkim.
This is for the first time that such an event is being held in Gangtok where Union Minister and MoS AYUSH along with senior officers from the Ministry of AYUSH are attending the event which will not only help in the process for the preservation and promotion of Sowa-Rigpa system of medicine in North Eastern states but also provide a platform to scholars, practitioners, researchers and students from various institutions to carry forward the legacy of this great medical system for standardization. This workshop will be attended by traditional Sowa-Rigpa practitioners from North Eastern States as well as from all over India.
The Sowa-Rigpa, system of medicine is one of the oldest surviving and well-documented medical traditions of the world with history of more than 2500 years. It is also popularly known as Amchi and popularly practiced in Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Darjelling.
SK
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Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Gadkari calls for R&D and shift towards alternate battery technologies for EVs
With electric vehicles fast becoming the new reality, Union Minister for MSME and Road Transport & Highways Sh. Nitin Gadkari has stressed the need to emerge as pioneers in developing leading battery and power-train technologies.
Noting that the challenge we presently face is the control on strategic reserves of Lithium, which is used to manufacture Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries used in vehicles, the Minister has called upon the EV sector to shift towards a completely indigenous battery technology in the coming years. This could be metal-air, metal-ion and other potential technologies in the R&D pipeline.
Pointing out the need to achieve the goal of AATMA NIRBHAR BHARAT in Transport Sector, Sh. Nitin Gadkari said it is necessary to dedicate the coming years to rigorous research and development of such alternative battery technologies with the support of our Institutions of Eminence , industry, scientists, engineers and the government.
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BN : MS
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Ministry of Defence
Strengthening Security
Various steps have been taken by the Government from time to time to strengthen the security of the country. Towards this, the post of Chief of Defence Staff  was created in December, 2019. The CDS has been mandated to carry out integration and jointness in the Armed Forces including creation of Integrated Theatre Commands. The CDS has also been made permanent Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee. A separate Department of Military Affairs  has been created to look after the matters related to Army, Air Force and Navy and jointness amongst the three services.
Further, modernisation, upgradation and sustenance of military equipment and weapons is taken up from time to time, to equip the Armed Forces with modern weapon systems / equipment under various procurement provisions . Also in emergencies, special procurement powers to enhance the operational capability are given to Service Headquarters.
The Government has also taken several policy initiatives and reforms to promote indigenous design, development and manufacture of defence equipment in the country and enable development or transfer of technologies in the country.
In addition to the above, specialised agencies viz. the Armed Forces Special Operations Division, the Defence Cyber Agency and the Defence Space Agency have also been established to address the emerging threats in the relevant domain.
Several measures have also been taken by the Government to strengthen the internal security architecture, such as strengthening of legal framework by amending the Unlawful Activities  Act, 1967; the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008; Arms Act, 1959; Modernisation of Police and Central Armed Police Forces ; strengthening of border security grid and coastal security; strengthening of the Multi-Agency Centre  and exchange of information and intelligence in various forums.
This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt in a written reply to Shri Rattan Lal Katariain Lok Sabha today.
ABB/DK/Savvy
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Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
Purchase of Crude Oil from International Market
Taking advantage of the low crude oil prices in international market, India purchased 16.71 million barrels  of crude in April – May, 2020 and filled all the three Strategic Petroleum Reserves created at Vishakhapatnam, Mangalore and Padur. The average cost of procurement of crude oil was US $ 19 per bbl as compared to US $ 60 per bbl prevailing during January2020, thus resulting in saving of US $ 685.11 million, which amounts to Rs. 5069 crores .
Prices of petrol and diesel have been made market-determined by the Government with effect from 26.06.2010 and 19.10.2014 respectively. Since then, the Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies  take appropriate decision on pricing of petrol and diesel in line with international product prices and other market conditions. Oil Marketing Companies take a decision on retail selling price after considering various aspects including international product prices, exchange rate, tax structure, inland freight and other cost elements.
Petrol and Diesel prices are market-determined and increase or decrease according to market trends. The weightage of petrol and diesel in the Wholesale Price Index  is 1.60% and 3.10% respectively.
This information was given by the Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas Shri Dharmendra Pradhan in the Rajya Sabha today in a written reply.